Romans is blowing my mind

Right now the book of Romans is blowing my mind! Ive decided to read one Psalm and one chapter of Romans every day. I read the chapter of Romans from 3 different translations (NLT, TNIV and THE MESSAGE) this is giving me a unique perspective and ability to glean from it. And seriously I'm not exaggerating it's blowing my mind.

The crazy thing is the part that is so enthralling to me, so crazy to me, is not new information . . . it's something I would have claimed to know all along. What is it you ask? Faith. I'm only in chapter 4 and the theme of faith is so obvious and clear and in your face that I can't believe I haven't seen it this way before. 3 verses that are revolutionizing my world right now as we speak.

Romans 3:20 (NLT)
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Romans 3:28 (TNIV)
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Romans 4:16 (THE MESSAGE)
This is why the fulfillment of God's promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does . . .

Wow, that's what I wrote in my bible WOW! How do we miss that? What do we do with that, how does that change us? It's changing me, His word is living, active and sharp and it's changing me. I prayed today that God would bring Faith to the youth of Ponoka, that they would recognize that God is there, his Son died and rose again, his Holy Spirit will lead them and that because of that they will start their journey of Faith. Join me, if you will, in that prayer . . . one of the greatest things missing in their lives is faith and faith would change everything for them. Faith would change everything for all of us if we learned to walk in it as we should.

Christians . . . the telemarketers of Religion?

At Bible study on Wednesday one of the young men in attendance made a comment that I found . . . intriguing. We were discussing why, as Christians, we can so easily turn people off. Why it is that their high school life is plagued with the reality that their friends look at them sideways when they mention that they are headed to Bible study or youth group. This young man's response . . . "It is because we are the telemarketers of the world, people hear us mention it, and they want to hang up." Interesting . . .

For a while we talked about where that mindset came from, What it meant for us as Christians and if it was possible to change it. I was encouraged by their view on it. But the comment still left me thinking. I don't have too much more to say on the topic really, it's just something I have been thinking about since he said it. Is that really how the world views us? and who do I need to be so that I am different? That's the goal right that we would be different but in an appealing, want to know about it kind of way.

In some ways it was a profound thought to me . . . in some ways a depressing one and in lots of ways one that made me want to be different, different from the world and different form the Christian Stereotype the world has. Again, it was just something that made me think. I thought I'd share it with you.

Standing in the breach

I was reading in Psalm 106 today and verse 23 stood out to me. The psalm recounts the history of the Israelites. It highlights some of their sins against the Lord, rebelling against him, giving in to their cravings and not waiting on Him, being envious, exchanging God for the image of a bull, despising the land they had been given . . . the list goes on. The incredible thing to me was how God in his unending love continued to care for them, continued to offer them mercy and forgiveness, it is truly a psalm which highlights His long-suffering. But now verse 23 -

21 They forgot the God who saved them, who had done 

great things in Egypt, 22 miracles in the land of Ham and 

awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 23 So he said he would 

destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach 

before him to keep his wrath from destroying them. 

It made me think of all the people who must have been "standing in the breach" for me during some of the darkest times of my life. People I know who were praying for me, coming before God on my behalf, pleading with him for my sake. The reality is I probably do not know all the names on that list, all the people who were lifting me up before God in prayer. But I know their prayers worked, I know God heard them and had mercy on me and turned my heart to Him once again. I am astounded every time I think of how God was working through others in my life. 

After reading that psalm and reflecting on that reality in my own life I prayed. I prayed for the youth I work with, for the youth of Ponoka and the surrounding area, I prayed for them by name and circumstance. I want to stand in the breach for these kids, and what is being revealed to me is that the only way I can stand in the breach is if I get on my knees in prayer. Please join with me, please pray for the youth of Ponoka, and please believe that your prayers on their behalf make a significant difference in their lives. 

heavenword . . . which way is that?

Philippians 3:7-14 is one of my favorite Bible passages, and as I was thinking about it this past week a new thought hit me. I'll be honest, it's a fairly elementary thought, one which maybe I should have had a long time ago, but something hit me in a new way. This whole passage is about "leaving your past behind you and moving toward the future which God has called you to" it talks about "pressing on," being "called," "attaining to" "arriving". Well the reality is you don't arrive without departing and you can't press on if your not moving, these are action words.

Here is the passage
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  

It struck me how that whole passage is about the direction in which we are moving, that might not be the first thing that jumps out at you, but I really believe that this is a passage that encourages us in the direction that we are to go as Christians, the action we must take. See verse 14 doesn't say "I stand here and wait to win the prize for which God will deliver to you in Christ Jesus" no it says "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which god has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." It is a direction, it is us moving. I recognize that as a Christian I am far to comfortable with standing in my comfort zone, waiting for heaven to come to me, maybe your like that too. There needs to be a change, we, I, need to realize that's not what it's about, that's not what we have been called too. We need to be Christians of action, sometimes the hard part is answering the question "what does it look like for me to be moving heavenward?"

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The Moments I LOVE!

This past Friday 6 youth and I headed to Edmonton to a Newsboys concert. On Saturday I realized Although I'm really not old, I don't feel as young as I once did after a late night like this one, but it was worth it. While jumping up and down and singing and screaming to loud music is kinda fun, the moments I love at these kind of events is when the band starts singing those songs that really touch your heart, the ones that make you want to raise your hands and really offer praise to Jesus, in those moments I love to look around and see the youth really worshiping. Because to me that is what it is all about, it's about God getting glory through there lives and about them being drawn into a deeper relationship with Him. I love playing with youth, just having fun hanging out and being together, but i REALLY love getting to see them in those moments when they are connecting with Jesus, and I love standing next to them and worshiping right along side of them, recognizing that the same grace that they need as they walk the messy path of adolescence is the same grace that covers me daily, that the Same Jesus that rescued me is the same Jesus that they need to rescue them, and I LOVE it when together we can praise that Jesus.

A shot of the newsboys snapped by one of my youth with her ever so trusty Phone Camera.


As a Side note, I want to thank those of you who have been helping me reach my fundraising goal through my One - Fifty campaign, I'm not there yet but I am so blessed by where i am! Check out my page here to see how far you guys have brought me. Thank you for making my work possible!   

Happy New Year!

Ok, I know it's not a new year yet, but it sure feels like one in my life . . .and I am sure in the lives of many of the youth who have just begun their new school year. I feel like September, with the start of a new school year, is a brand new year for me.

It has been exciting over the past few days to be back into schools. It is still early in the year, so very few of our programs have started up, but I know where to find kids! Last week after going to an opening day assembly at St. Augustine school I took a few girls out for ice cream, it was so encouraging to connect with them and hear about there summers, it got me excited for what this new year will hold. It's just really encouraging to be back in the swing of things, to know that I can head into schools and connect with kids.

Tonight is the start of my Wednesday night youth bible study and I look forward to hearing some "back to school" stories, I also look forward to having a weekly opportunity to connect with these kids, to learn and grow together. I look forward to seeing what this new school year will hold. So Happy New Year!!

Golf . . . for a cause

I really don't like golf, I feel like it's a sport that someone invented for the pure pleasure of watching someone like me be very very frustrated. Baseball is more my sport, there's a ball and a bat and the goal is to hit the ball as hard as possible, how is that not awesome?? Golf, theres a ball and an awkward shaped club and the goal is to calculate how hard and in what direction you should attempt to move the ball, it almost makes me feel like I'm doing math . . .yuck!! So anyway, I really don't like Golf.

None the less every year YFC does a golf  marathon, 54 holes of golf in two days. ummm, can anyone say torture? However, the goal of the marathon is to raise money in support of our work with YFC. So as much as I hate golf I hate to pass up the great fundraising opportunity that it is. That is why I am INCREDIBLY happy that Nick Comeau will be golfing those 54 holes instead of me. Thank you Nick!! It is still my responsibility however to raise the money for him to embark on this 54 hole endevour that he is willing to do to help me in my work with Youth Unlimited. For the record asking for money . . . also not real high on my list of favorites, but because I believe deeply in the message of reconciliation which has been entrusted to us as Christians, and I believe we have been called to share it and to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I will ask. I am so blessed to be able to do this work with Youth Unlimited. I am so blessed also by those of you who believe in this work and our mission. If you would be willing to make a financial contribution towards my work with Youth Unlimited by donating to this 54 hole Golf Marathon (all proceeds go towards my deputation with Youth Unlimited I would very much appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me for me details. If you are unable to make a financial contribution I would still covet your prayers for both myself and the youth I come in contact with this new school year.

haley@wolfcreekyfc.com  
you can also check out more info here